Day Trippin

So it has taken a little time to write, but just because I have been super busy with preparing for school. Alot has happened that I want to talk about. First I did make the chocolate cupcakes featured on CHOW http://www.chow.com/recipes/1079 . I used the butter cream frosting to top it off. The chocolate cupcakes were fun to make ( I licked the bowl clean) and they rose perfectly. The frosting wasn't really thick I am not sure if I did something off, but I made lemonade with lemons I drizzled it over like icing. I was going to take pictures but they were gobbled up super fast.

Me and my boyfriend went to Hugo's for lunch the next day a healthy spot for eaters of all kinds. There vegan gluten-free pumpkin pie is AMAZING!! They have a large list of tea's from around the world. I was feeling like a burger so I got the All American Burger on whole wheat bread and salad! It doesn't necessarily taste like a burger but it does taste like a yummy veggie patty. I think there menu describes it the best

" An outstanding combination of organic sprouted mung beans, organic brown rice, assorted fresh vegetables, mushrooms, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, herbs and spices, fried crispy. Served with onion, lettuce, tomato, Veganase and your choice of any burger toppings."

I would also recommend the Asian Spring rolls there (Yum!!)

After running errands for the rest of the day we built up another appetite and decided to try the Vegan friendly restaurant Kung PaoI had eaten meat dishes here before and they were all pretty good, so I figured they would have generally good food all around. First off the service was horrible. When we were finally seated we ordered diet coke and water. Then when he returned with our drinks we ordered the non-meat chicken and broccoli, the tofu in brown sauce and two brown rices (which never came). The chicken came first it tasted like cornmeal and despite looking like chicken it tasted nothing like it. The broccoli took on the strange flavor. So we stuck to the tofu. The sauce had good flavor, but was super rich and kind of left me nauseous. When the bill came they had charged us for the brown rice. I would steer clear of this place on service alone.

Since I didn't really fill up at the restaurant I had some spaghetti (yum!)

I went to CPK with my girlfriend the next day and had a delicious cheese free, whole wheat crust veggie pizza (with mushrooms, onions, olives and bell peppers). Followed with soda water and kettle chips.

While I went shopping to fins some cookies to satisfy a wicked sweet tooth when I came across Van's dairy free , egg free, gluten free blueberry waffles. That were amazing. I had them with a side of morningstar bacon and smothered in low calorie syrup.
I am probable going to snack on some Newman O's with soy milk! Until then let me know if you have a good vegan cornbread recipe or brand.

Ciao

Nothing Like Pasta, Wine and Bridget Jones's Diary

OK so I was going to make spaghetti earlier but I was treated by my mom to her world famous vegan tacos. They are my favorite things in the world as they say MAMA KNOWS BEST!! Her tacos consist of morning star ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce, avocado, salsa, soy cheese, soy sour cream and some secret special seasonings MMmmMMmmMM!!! I wish I had my camera on my because they are not only pleasing to the mouth, they are also pleasing to the eye. They are colorful and yummy looking!!

After the tacos me and my friend went on a Yogurt run to Humphrey Yogurt, which is a place to put down on the go to checklist for vegans, omnivores and carnivores alike. I got a vanilla soy ice cream mixed with vegan chocolate and banana which was heavenly! I also bought a Heart Thrive apple vegan energy bar which I ate this morning. It tasted like some strange oatmeal mud paste ( I do not recommend).

When I came home I was craving a shake, I am still working on perfecting a vegan shake I like I used soy vanilla ice cream, vanilla soy milk, a cutie and a banana. It came out a little bit icey for my taste. I know that they sell an awesome soy shake at trader joes I might just have to stick to that for now.

Anyways for lunch It was time for spaghetti which was very satisfying!!
I was craving mushrooms if you couldn't tell.
Mushroom Lover Spaghetti

Ingredients:

• 8 oz mushrooms sliced
• Vegan Italian Sausage ( I use smart dog)
• Spaghetti sauce of your choice
• small can of chopped olives
• red paper or hot sauce
• salt
• Package of brown rice spaghetti noodles
  
• Vegetable Oil
  

1. Boil water and add salt
2. Add noodles and cook using directions on package
3. In a separate pot put in Sauce, red pepper flakes, and olives
4. Saute sausage and mushrooms in oil
5. Add sausages and mushrooms to sauce cool for an additional 5-8 minutes over med heat
6. Drain pasta
7. Plate pasta and Pile on Sauce
8. Of course enjoy!!

You can substitute sausage for meatballs and add vegan Parmesan cheese if you like. I like to have it with a nice glass of wine.

I enjoyed this with a chick flick and some tissues! Two points on the girl scale. I am about to top it off with a candle lit bubble bath! Hope you enjoy the recipe!! I just got a new camera so better photos are coming soon.

Ciao

Happy New Years

Hello all!

So new years started with a bang and I mean a real bang, I went to Giant Maximus this year in down town LA and fell down a short fight of stairs when my 4 inch heel got caught in a trap. I made my resolution to live a healthier lifestyle mostly in relation to exercising on a more regular basis. I found a kick ass home routine that I started today it sure makes you tiered but it is amazing. I had another BBQ burger tonight minus the mushrooms and avocado, because I was in a hurry. I followed that up with a cutie, which if you have not tried is a soy ice cream sandwich which is pretty darn tasty.

I don't know if it was the workout but I was still starving an hour later. So I had 1/4 a cup of chipotle nuts. Nuts of course were not enough to fill the void that is my stomach. So I whipped together a yummy snack. Two late night dogs. This is one of my favorite late night snacks because it is quick, easy and delicious!

Late night Dogs
two servings

Ingredients:

• Two of your favorite meatless hot dog ( I prefer smart dogs only 45 calories)
• Two slices of wheat bread
• Mustard (I enjoy flavored mustard, I use horseradish!)
• Ketchup
• Two Pickles (Sandwich Style)

1. Heat up dogs by following directions on the package
2. Place hot dog in center of bread (One dog per slice)
3. Put mustard and ketchup on one side of hot dog
4. Place pickle on opposite side
5. Enjoy

This comes out to about 140 calories per serving

Time for some much needed post new years sleep!!

Ciao

Hello!

So I have never been much for keeping a journal or blogging but I feel like it is about time, especially with my newest experiments. This blog is going to be dedicated to the journey I am making into a vegan life style. I have been an on again off again vegan and vegetarian ever since I was 15. I found it hard to find substitutes for the foods I absolutely loved, especially recipes that were quick and easy. I have returned to being a vegan semi-recently and have made it a mission to find easy and delicious recipes to recreate the non-vegan foods I love. I also want most of the foods I make to be low-fat and healthy.

Today I have tried two new recipes ( which I will not include photos of until later). One was a hit and one was a miss. The first recipe was one I created on my own to satisfy my ravenous burger craving. I like to call it the No-meat BBQ stack burger:

Ingredients:

• Beef veggie Patty ( I like Amy's bistro or boca vegan original because they are low in calories)
• Cheddar Soy Cheese 1-2 slices
• Morningstar Vegan Bacon
• BBQ Sauce
• Non-Dairy Butter ( I prefer smart balance) 1 tbs
  
• Half a cup of mushrooms
• Burger Pickles
• Tomato Slices
• Half a small avocado
  
• Lettuce to wrap ( I use instead of a bun)
  

1. First I saute the mushrooms in melted butter, then put them aside
2. Heat up bacon according to directions on box
   
3. Heat up burger patty using directions on box
4. Place cheese on Patty
5. put cheese and patty on top of lettuce wrap and top with BBQ sauce
6. Place bacon on top of patty
   
7. Stack veggies on top of the bacon
8. Wrap with lettuce and enjoy!!

This really hit the spot for me. I gave it the real burger spot touch with some sweet potato fries with chilly powder and ketchup, and a "root beer float" with soy ice cream. It is a slightly messy burger but that is all part of the fun.

I also tried a fat free slow cooker chili recipe and although it sounded amazing stacked with mushrooms, beans, veggies, and spices with some brown rice. It tasted like a big mushy mess. I am letting it sit overnight with the hope that it transforms into something tasty.
To recover from a crappy baby food like mess I treated myself to some of the best stuff on earth GOOD KARMA Organic Rice Divine Mudd Pie Ice Cream, which is seriously the most amazing stuff on earth. Imaging sex, god and winning a billion dollars and you are sort of close to the amazingness of this stuff.

Well that is all I am making today I have a pizza night planned for later this week, and a spaghetti night. Oh also I am going to be reviewing vegan and vegan friendly restaurants I go to throughout the blog. I hope you all have an amazing new years!!

Ciao-